More yarn!

While on vacation, I like to visit craft stores, if there is a yarn or needlework store nearby, all the better! You can be sure that I will be leaving with something. Here's my haul from this trip!

I picked up some Ella Rae for another soft hat and found some hand dyed sock yarn in Victoria. I also picked up my first skeins of Malabrigo. To round it all out, I added more yarn for hats that was on sale at Michaels.

Ascendance Crown is finally finished

It seems like I've been working on this forever, but it really has been only a week. In that week, I've restarted this project 3 times... It was a challenge and I was determined to finish. Here is my Ascendance Crown...

I started this about a week ago, the first of 3 October stitch-a-longs. I learned...

1. I should not crochet for long periods of time. Or I should remember to let go of the hook for a moment to stretch out every once in awhile.
2. Don't be afraid to try a project, even if it looks too complicated. Just take it one row at a time
3. If something doesn't look right ask... especially if you are participating in an HAL where the designer is there to help you. It would have saved me a lot of time if I asked before I got to row 41!

I'm glad that I did this hat and am very proud of the result. Who wouldn't want to wear a crown like this!

book 'em, danno

Shh...this photo was taken while waiting at a red light. I drive by this corner almost every day on my home from work. About once a week, it is filled with trucks and equipment. So, what are they doing? They are filming Hawaii 5-0 of course!




Really, this is just the lighting, the actual filming is going on inside the building. I'm not out and about during the day, so chances of catching the an outdoor scene with real actors is just about zilch. But I'm keeping my eye out for them...  Just watch for all the street closures...

Green Halley's Comet

One more Halley's Comet hat completed! I am loving this pattern. Thank you Marnie MacLean. Right now it my "go to" pattern for hat knitting. For this hat I used Vanna's Choice in Seaspray mist. It is wonderfully soft and the washable factor is a plus for hospice hats.

Can you see the yellow below the hat? Mr. Giraffe's body is completed and stuffed, waiting for the remaining pieces to be finished. Meanwhile, it makes a great base for hat modeling.

Crochet Hat-A-Long for October

I am participating in a Crochet Hat-A-Long for October. The design is by Akua Lezli Hope and is called the Ascendance Crown. My first look at the pattern was when it was delivered to my inbox on October 1st. Oh my it seems a bit intimidating. It's been awhile since I've picked up my crochet hooks and this has popcorns, berries and cables... The instructions seemed to be written well, so I'll just take it one row at a time...
Here's my progress through row 26.

Not the best photo...I'm using Vanna's Choice in Scarlett. I think I like the festive look. This is going pretty quickly and I may be able to keep up with all the projects that I signed up for this month... We'll see...

 

Another Halley's Comet

Wisp is not cooperating and will be on the back burner for a bit. Meanwhile, I'll make another hat!

I really enjoyed stitching the Halley's Comet Hat and thought I would do another one. I'm running low on washable yarn for hospice projects, so I thought I would try Vanna's Choice. It is 100% worsted weight acrylic and comes in a variety of colors.

It looks a bit anemic here, but it is a nice spring green color. A few more rows to go and this will be done!

It's October already!

Can you believe that it is October already? I've been slacking on the posts and the knitting because of this. I downloaded the free version before the trip and haven't been able to put it down.

I was making progresson Wisp, but the missed yo (yarn overs) on the lace edging really bothered me, so it has been frogged. Back to square one...Cast on...again...

Moving on, since I really want to pick up my knitting again. I've joined a knit along... more than one actually...

The first is the Through the Loops Sock KAL. I joined this last year and I loved the result. Kirsten releases a part of the pattern each week in October, so it really is a mystery. The great part of it is the parts are manageable, so each week, I was able to work on both sides of the sock and by the end of the month I had a completed pair. Here's a photo of the 2009 Mystery socks.

In addition, you all know about my ongoing hat projects... On Ravelry, I follow a group called Hats, Hats, Hats to keep a eye out for new hat patterns. For the month of October, there are two Hat-Alongs - one knit and one crochet. I joined both so I hope I can keep up! I'll post more about those once I cast on.